3215

Analysis

Heading 3215 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule covers printing ink, writing or drawing ink and other inks, whether or not concentrated or solid. It divides into 3 six-digit subheadings and 8 eight-digit tariff lines, with 18 ten-digit statistical suffixes below them.

2 of its 8 lines with a percentage rate are duty-free at the general rate (25%) and 6 are dutiable, from duty-free up to 3.1%. The median line pays 1.8%.

Its median rate of 1.8% sits at the 25th percentile of the headings in chapter 32.

The largest subheadings are 3215.11 (black, 3 lines), 3215.19 (other, 3 lines) and 3215.90 (other, 2 lines).

By Census's concordance, most of its statistical lines are made by Printing Ink Manufacturing (325910) and All Other Miscellaneous Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing (325998). Those are the NAICS industries a US producer of these goods would report under.

The heading text decides whether a product belongs here at all (General Rule of Interpretation 1); the subheadings and lines below it only apply once that is settled. Section and chapter notes can override the heading wording, so read them for borderline goods.